Siena Cathedral, 2013

It is large, old, historic, has interesting architecture, the best of all cathedral floors, and a great deal of world-class art. Plus it's atmospheric, visceral even, one of those special places, no matter how crowded. Our 2011 posts were http://roadeveron.blogspot.it/2011/06/siena-duomo.html, and http://roadeveron.blogspot.it/2011/06/but-wait-theres-more-siena-duomo-museum.html.

Facade; Gothic; Zebraesque...

The west window, a highly unusual Last Supper

The best thing about this visit was that the entire floor--all
of it in-laid Medieval/Renaissance marble marquetry--was,
this day, uncovered; here a zodiac

One of the complete set of Sybils that cover
the outer edges of the floor: the dog is
saying "Let's us canines and felines be
friends, now and forevermore"; the cat is
saying "Sure, Fido, just as soon as I scratch
your eyes out"

Another, um, mythological scene

And another

A battle scene: "only a flesh wound!"

Absalom volunteering for pike target practice; seriously,
every square inch of the floor is covered in these gorgeous
marbles

The great crossing dome

The Pisanos' monumental pulpit

In the starboard chapel, Bernini's exquisite
Mary Magdalen; same ecstatic pose as
the opposite St. Jerome; but showing lots
more leg

In the apse now, showing the Virtues; here, Temperance (just
having one); wait, no, Vicki says this was Prudence

Choir; incredible illusionary woodwork...

Thus, for example

A favorite perspective at Siena, at the crossing, by the pulpit,
looking up to the dome

Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library

With its dozen or so huge, colorful, detailed
frescoes of the life of Cardinal Piccolomini, later
Pope Pius II, by Pinturrichio; early 16th